Prior to UFC 215's main event between Amanda Nunes and Valentina Shevchenko, a multitude of undercard fights had major implications. Here's how it went down.

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The five-round title fight, which was a rematch of a Nunes' decision win in March 2016, was razor close. Two judges scored it 48-47 for Nunes, and a third saw it 48-47 for Shevchenko. ESPN scored it 48-47 for Shevchenko.

Nunes, who was forced to cancel the title defense in July when she fell ill on fight day, pointed to a pair of late takedowns as a difference-maker.

"I made sure I was sharp everywhere," Nunes said. "I learned that at the end of the round is when she is getting tired, not me. I decided with my coach that at the end of the round, take her down. That's what happened tonight."

Shevchenko, who was born in Kyrgyzstan and has strong ties to Peru, immediately expressed her dissatisfaction with the scores.

"For two takedowns? All five rounds? She didn't hit me," Shevchenko said. "Look at her face. I really don't understand. Even when I was on the ground, I hit very hard from the ground position. I really don't understand why [I lost]."

Asked at the postfight news conference if she would appeal the decision, Shevchenko thought for a moment and said, "If I can, I will." She also acknowledged how difficult it typically is to change a decision once it has been rendered.

Amanda Nunes, who was forced to cancel her bantamweight title defense in July when she fell ill the day of the fight, pointed to a pair of late takedowns as the difference in her split-decision victory over Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 215. Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC/Getty Images

The rematch was very different from the first fight, which saw Nunes dominate Shevchenko on the ground for two rounds before gassing in the third.

Nunes, who is from Brazil but fights out of Coconut Creek, Florida, stood with Shevchenko much more in the rematch. She threw a steady dose of push kicks to Shevchenko's lead thigh, which Shevchenko later said had little effect.

Slowly, Shevchenko appeared to get Nunes' timing down, although she never really opened up in a big way. Shevchenko turned to Superman punches from a distance and caught Nunes a couple of times with slick counterpunches after slipping Nunes' right hand. Nunes continued to land push kicks, however, and placed the right hand several times during brief exchanges.

Overall, however, it was a chess match of a fight. The Edmonton crowd, which lost its original main event between Demetrious Johnson and Ray Borg after Borg withdrew, booed throughout and began chanting "Let's go Oilers" in the final round.

According to Fightmetric, Shevchenko outlanded Nunes in total strikes 104-85. Nunes was credited with three takedowns in five attempts.

Nunes is now riding a streak that includes wins over Miesha Tate, Ronda Rousey and a second victory over Shevchenko.

Nunes acknowledged it was difficult to concentrate all week, as south Florida braces for Hurricane Irma this weekend. Nunes said her partner, and UFC fighter, Nina Ansaroff's family is still in the area.

"It was tough because I buy my new house, my new car, all those things you work so hard to get," Nunes said. "I'm here. I can't do anything about it. Nina's family is there, went there, helping with everything. I have friends as well. It definitely bothered me all week. When I walk in the cage, my heart was there."

Nunes also confirmed she will undergo surgery to address the sinus problem that forced her to pull out of UFC 213 this summer. The surgery does not rule out a return this year, although Nunes said she's likely to return in 2018.